Coin controller mechanism for entertainment games adjustable to receive different coins

ABSTRACT

A coin controller for entertainment games, and the like, that includes a pair of coin deposit slots for receiving coins of different value and a release bar for operating the entertainment game that is unlocked for operation by the deposit of specified coins in one of the slots. One edge of the coin controller is adjacent the closed lid of the game and carries a guide groove that cooperates with the closed lid for locking a plate pivoted to the front of the coin controller in a position overlying one or the other of the coin deposit slots so the entertainment game owner can control the price per game for different demand periods.

United States Patent I Leonhart [451 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] COIN CONTROLLER MECHANISM FOR ENTERTAINMENT GAMES ADJUSTABLE TO RECEIVE DIFFERENT COINS [72] Inventor: Xaver Leonhart, 8381 Harburg near Landau, lsar, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 29,075

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 18, 1969 Germany ..G 69 15 526.6

[52] US. Cl. ..194/1 E, 194/DIG. 20 [51] ..G07f1/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..l94/l A, l B, l C, l E, DIG. 20;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,596 12/1910 Sullivan ..l94/D1G. 20

3,195,706 7/1965 Leonhart ..194/55 3,165,185 l/l965 Moore 821,761 5/1906 Stanley l94/DIG. 20

Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerThomas E. Kocovsky Attorney-Brady, O'Boyle & Gates [57] ABSTRACT A coin controller for entertainment games, and the like, that includes a pair of coin deposit slots for receiving coins of different value and a release bar for operating the entertainment game that is unlocked for operation by the deposit of specified coins in one of the slots. One edge of the coin controller is adjacent the closed lid of the game and carries a guide groove that cooperates with the closed lid for locking a plate pivoted to the front of the coin controller in a position overlying one or the other of the coin deposit slots so the entertainment game owner can control the price per game for different demand periods.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patcntod April 4, 1972 3,653,47

INQENTOR xAvER LEONHART BY m;

ATTORNEYS comco w oLLER MECHANISM FOR ENTERTAINMENT GAMES ADJUSTABLE TO RECEIVE DIFFERENT COINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates broadly to coin controller mechanisms for coin controlled entertainment games, vending machines, and the like, which are adapted to receive coins of different denominations and size, respectively in two different slots to actuate the same, and more particularly to a cover or shutter member for selectively covering one of the coin slots and enabling only a selected one of the two coin slots to be utilized. The purpose of the shutter member of the invention is to offer the person utilizing such games or machines a more economical or cheaper playing rate on days of low attendance or low machine use, than the higher rate charged on days of higher demand for which the coin slot covered by the shutter member is used.

Coin controller mechanisms, for table games and the like, which have two coin receiving slots are conventional and wellknown in the art. One such coin controller is shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,706, issued July 20, 1965 for Coin Controller for Games and the Like. This type of coin controller, and the type to which the present invention pertains, makes it possible to insert, in place of a large single coin, several smaller coins corresponding to the value of the large coin, or also deviating therefrom, for example, in order to provide a fewer number of games for the smaller coins than are provided upon the insertion of the larger denomination coin. In the past the customer has had the use of both coin slots available to him so he was free to choose at which game cost rate he desired to play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide mechanism that always keeps one of the two coin deposit slots for the various coins covered, and to regulate the release of the actuating rod in such a manner that the monetary value of the coins to be inserted in one of the slots deviates from the value of the coin for the other slot. In such a case, it is made possible, for example, during the weekend when the entertainment games, as experience has shown, are particularly popular, to uncover the coin slot for the customary, and higher, coin value, whereas on days of low attendance and low game use the stimulus of the fewer customers to play can be increased by uncovering the coin slot for the lower total value of the coins and covering the coin slot for the higher game cost rate.

This objective is obtained, in accordance with the invention, by arranging a shutter or movable body member in front of the front face of the coin controller. In the two selective or terminal positions of the shutter, the latter covers one or the other of the two coin deposit slots and also covers the associated directions regarding the type and/or number of coins to be inserted in the respective slot. The shutter is retained in these terminal positions by the closed lid of the entertainment game, that is normally locked. The solution according to the invention is particularly simple when the shutter is constructed of a strong plate member pivotally connected to the front plate of the coin controller above the release bar and extends upwardly to such an extent that the upper end of the plate member is retained in its two terminal positions by the closed locked lid of the entertainment game.

I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows an illustrative example of the coin controller of the invention applied to an entertainment game, and the operation and advantages thereof will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the conventional table soccer games having a coin controller according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the coin controller of the invention shown on a scale enlarged from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the coin controller of the invention, illustrating the manner in which the movable shutter selectively covers the coin deposit slots and renders them inaccessible;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of FIG. 2, as seen from the left-hand side thereof, showing the coin guiding channels of the left-hand coin deposit slot of the controller; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, taken substantially on line 55 of FIG. 2 and showing the coin guiding channels for the right-hand coin deposit slot that are disposed behind the parts shown in FIG. 4, and which are used for the second type of coins.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 0n the front face 1 of a coin controller according to FIG. 2, with two coin deposit slots 2, 3 for different-valued coins, a plate 6 is pivotally connected by a pin 5 positioned above an axially movable release bar 4, that controls the operation of the game. A rearwardly extending hook member 7 is connected on the upper end of the plate, and when the hinged cover of the game is open the hook member can freely move laterally in a groove or slot 8 in the top edge of the front face of the coin controller that lies immediately adjacent the game lid 12. The outer end 9 of the hook member is bent into a hook shape to movably engage the rear face 1 and function to retain the plate 6 at the front face of the coin checker even against strong external forces by human hands. Depending on whether the plate is pivoted toward the right or toward the left, it uncovers one of the coin deposit slots 2 or 3 and simultaneously reveals the directions regarding the type and quantity of the coins to be inserted, provided in the small frames 10 and 11, respectively, positioned above the slots 2 and 3. The hook 7,9 and slot 8 are disposed at such a level that the hook member is retained at one end of the slot 8 by the cooperation of the lower edge of the closed lid 12 of the entertainment game with the slot 8, i.e., the hook member and thus the coin slot cover plate 6 can be shifted only when the normally locked lid has been opened by the owner or leasee of the entertainment game.

If, for example, two smaller coins 13, 14 (FIG. 4) are inserted in the slot 2 of the coin checker, open in accordance with FIG. 3, then these coins slide through a coin tester or analyzer 15, of the well-known type, and through a vertical coin guide chute I6 fixedly connected with the coin analyzer is, and end up in a lower coin release channel 17 fixedly connected on and movable with the release bar 4. The lower and open end of the coin release channel 17 is normally covered by a holding plate 18 formed, in this case, by the upper leg of an angle iron; this plate is furthermore fixedly connected with a base frame 19 of the coin controller and is disposed closely in front of a large coin collecting well 20. If, now, the release bar 4 which is in a normally extended position is pushed inwardly in the direction of the arrow 21, against the force of return spring 22, toward the coin checker, the upper coin l4 protruding from release channel 17 pivots a blocking panel 23 about its fulcrum 24, out of the path of a locking notch 25 on the release bar 4, in which it would normally engage, such that the bar can be moved on, unhindered, in the direction toward the coin checker front plate and in the usual manner operate a mechanism (not shown) to release the playing balls provided for the game, which can then be withdrawn from the box 26 and placed on the table in the usual manner for the purpose of playing the game. During the inward movement of the release bar 4, the release channel 17 carrying the two coins l3 and 14 therein is also pushed beyond the holding plate 18 and is positioned over the open top of the large coin collecting well 20, whereupon the coins fall from channel 17 through well 20 into a collecting receptacle 27. If the release bar 4 is thereupon set free again, it returns to its normal outwardly extending position under the biasing force of spring 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

The device operates in a similar manner when a large coin 28 is 14, as The insertion is effected, in this case, into slot 3, as indicated in FIG. 3 by means of a dot-dash line. The large coin rolls through a coin tester or analyzer 30, of a type well-known in the art, and through a fixed coin guide duct 31, oriented somewhat toward the outside, into a short coin release channel 32 attached to and carried by the release bar 4. The lower opening of this coin release channel 32 is covered by a holding plate 33 connected stationary with the coin collector base frame 19. The holding plate 33 is disposed at such a level that the upper edge of the larger coin 28 extends to exactly the same level above the top of the release bar 4 as the uppermost edge of the smaller coins l3, 14, as previously described. Thus, upon actuation of the release bar 4, by pushing it inwardly, the large coin 28 will also in this case lift the common blocking pawl 23 so it will not engage the locking notch 25 and thus free the full stroke of the release bar 4. The coin 28 is likewise entrained by the short coin release channel 32 upon the inward movement of the release bar 4 and falls, as soon as it clears the back edge of holding plate 33, even before termination of the full stroke of the release bar, into the large coin collecting well 34 provided for this purpose. The large coin passes through the open bottom of the coin collecting well 34 into another compartment of the coin collecting receptacle 27.

With this mechanism, during high demand periods, plate 6 can be positioned to cover coin deposit slot 2 and leave only slot 3 for large coins available for use. A charge, for example, of 25 cents per game is made in this situation. During periods of low demand only slot 2 is made available to the public, whereupon a lesser charge is made per game. In this instance, for example, it would require only 2 dimes to operate the coin controller, or the mechanism could be arranged to operate on the insertion of2 nickels.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, on the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Iclaim:

1. In a coin controller for vending machines of the type having a stationary wall portion and an adjacent movable closure portion, a face plate on said stationary wall portion having at least a pair of spaced coin deposit slots adapted to respectively receive coins of different value, the improvement comprising said face plate having a terminal edge positioned adjacent and in abutting relation with the movable closure portion in closed position and the movable closure portion being spaced from said terminal edge in an open position, a movable member pivotally connected at one end to said face plate and arcuately movable in a plane substantially parallel with said plate between two positions respectively overlying one or the other of said coin deposit slots to render the respective slot inaccessible, a. retainer finger connected to and extending rearwardly from said movable member, an open arcuate notch having two end positions for said retainer finger in said terminal edge, said retainer finger movably engaged in said arcuate notch, whereby when said closure portion is in open position said retainer finger is freely movable back and forth longitudinally of said arcuate notch and in closed position said closure portion blocks the central portion of said notch to confine said retainer finger in one of the two end positions of said notch and retain said movable member in a selected one of the two positions.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which said movable member consists of a strong elongate plate positioned transverse of said terminal edge, said pivot connection positioned adjacent one end of said elongate plate and on said face plate along an axis between said pair of spaced coin deposit slots that is normal to said terminal edge, the central portion of said arcuate notch being substantially in alignment with the terminal edge of said face plate, said retainer finger connected on the opposite end of said elongate plate from said pivot connection, and the said opposite end of said elongate plate terminating substantially at said terminal edge of said face plate. 

1. In a coin controller for vending machines of the type having a stationary wall portion and an adjacent movable closure portion, a face plate on said stationary wall portion having at least a pair of spaced coin deposit slots adapted to respectively receive coins of different value, the improvement comprising said face plate having a terminal edge positioned adjacent and in abutting relation with the movable closure portion in closed position and the movable closure portion being spaced from said terminal edge in an open position, a movable member pivotally connected at one end to said face plate and arcuately movable in a plane substantially parallel with said plate between two positions respectively overlying one or the other of said coin deposit slots to render the respective slot inaccessible, a retainer finger connected to and extending rearwardly from said movable member, an open arcuate notch having two end positions for said retainer finger in said terminal edge, said retainer finger movably engaged in said arcuate notch, whereby when said closure portion is in open position said retainer finger is freely movable back and forth longitudinally of said arcuate notch and in closed position said closure portion blocks the central portion of said notch to confine said retainer finger in one of the two end positions of said notch and retain said movable member in a selected one of the two positions.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which said movable member consists of a strong elongate plate positioned transverse of said terminal edge, said pivot connection positioned adjacent one end of said elongate plate and on said face plate along an axis between said pair of spaced coin deposit slots that is normal to said terminal edge, the central portion of said arcuate notch being substantially in alignment with the terminal edge of said face plate, said retainer finger connected on the opposite end of said elongate plate from said pivot connection, and the said opposite end of said elongate plate terminating substantially at said terminal edge of said face plate. 